Cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht laid to rest

The funeral has taken place of the cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht. The 22-year-old Lotto-Soudal team member died last week after suffering a fall while competing in the Tour of Poland cycle race. He fell onto a concrete sewer pipe during the third stage of the race. He was taken to hospital, but died on the operating table.

Tue 13 Aug 2019 13:38

Bjorg Lambrecht was in his second season as a professional cyclist. He come to the fore this season with top 3 places in the Brabant Arrow, the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne. He was honoured as the best young cyclist in the Dauphiné.

Bjorg Lamberecht’s funeral got under way at 11am. A number of his teammates, including Jelle Vanendert and Tiesj Benoot, and his former teammate André Greipel carried Bjorg Lambrecht’s coffin into the Saint-Willibord Church in the East Flemish village of Knesselare.

There was a big turnout for the funeral. Both inside the church on the square outside the building, where the service was shown on a big screen. The funeral services was also show via a live stream on the VRT’s sport website sporza.be.

Cycling Federation Chairman: "A great talent has been lost”

The Chairman of the Belgian Cycling Federation Tom Van Damme was one of the many mourners inside the church. Mr Van Damme said “We have lost a great cycling talent. However, today my thoughts go out above all to the family and to his parents that have lost their son”.

"In Belgium we have recently lost a number of riders. But as regards Bjorg, it really was a tragic twist of fate. If he had fallen a metre further on we wouldn't be here now”.